A healthy mind means a healthy body. If you find that stress from work, studies or the kids are getting too much for you, now is the time to take a moment to relax and unwind. Take your mind off your problems, and you’ll find that your general health benefits as a result!

An ideal way to take a load off is to indulge with some close friends in any one of a choice of pampering days offered by health clubs, spa resorts, saunas or local baths. Yet this often represents the ultimate inaccessibility as not many of us can afford to take a day off to languish and luxuriate in a five-star spa resort hotel…or can we? Thanks to gift experience companies offering packages of pamper days, those haunts of the rich and famous have just become a little bit more accessible to us everyday folk. Take the opportunity while you can!

Another option is to get a little creative with your spa days. For instance, many cultures around the world have long recognised the therapeutic value of bathing in steam, scented oils and salty water, and an international tradition of curative bathing has carried through to the present day. Find out the location of your nearest Russian banya, Finnish sauna, Turkish baths or Japanese bath house and make a day of combined global cultural discovery and heavy-duty relaxing!

The third and final possibility really reiterates that anyone, anywhere, can find the time to relax and unwind. All you need is five minutes and a few simple household ingredients. It’s possible to create your own D.I.Y. pampering experience with oat skin treatments, Epsom salts, cucumber slices, and lavender, peppermint or almond oil. Any time is the right time for healthy relaxation!

Of course, if you really want to treat yourself, take a day or weekend off entirely and have a hot air balloon experience or a steam train experience. Discover your local area, unwind and take in the views – and here’s to your health!